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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 33015

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Dr. Álvaro Rodríguez González

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School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, Universidad de León, Portugal Avenue nº41, 24071 León, Spain
Interests: insect pests; vineyard pests; biological control; integrated pest management; medicinal and aromatic plants; cerambycid pests; insect ecology; volatile compounds; crop protection
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Dear Colleagues,

All crops are affected by a number of pests and diseases. Global trade in plant material and climate change are two fundamental factors causing the emergence of new pests and pathogens in areas and crops where they had never previously developed.

The sustainable use of insecticides and/or fungicides requires reducing risks and negative effects on human health and the environment, leading each year to the removal of chemical products available on the market that traditionally had been used in agriculture. These banned products need to be replaced by others of lower impact. This context requires the development of alternative products or the use of natural substances and/or compounds of minimal impact on the environment for the control of pests and plant diseases. Biological Controls Agents (BCA), such as biofungicides or biopesticides, are organisms that are able to control crop pests and diseases.

We invite experts and researchers in the field to contribute original research articles, reviews, short communications, and opinion pieces addressing pest- and disease-control in crops through the use of BCA. Papers on all types of pest and biotic diseases will be considered in this Special Issue. Works on minor and tropical–subtropical crops are also welcome. Specific topics of interest include biofungicides and biopesticides. Other topics of interest are semiochemicals, natural elements, essential oils, volatile organic compounds, biofungicide and biopesticide application and research methods, biofungicides and biopesticides models, and plant–BCA interactions.

Dr. Álvaro Rodríguez González
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biological control agents
plant diseases
biofungicides
plant pests
biopesticides
crop protection
integrated pest management

Published Papers (11 papers)

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13 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Management Fusarium Wilt Disease in Tomato by Combinations of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Peppermint Oil

by Magdi A. A. Mousa, Kamal A. M. Abo-Elyousr, Ahmed M. K. Abdel Alal and Nouf Owdah Alshareef

Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2536; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122536 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3133

Abstract

The most important disease of tomato is Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). To control this disease, this study examined the combined use of bacterial bioagents and peppermint oil (PO). Seven bacterial isolates were collected from tomato plant rhizospheres and tested in vitro against FOL. The highest growth inhibition against FOL was shown by isolate No.3. This isolate was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing gene as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA). Peppermint oil tested at different concentrations (1, 2, and 3%) against FOL mycelial growth in vitro showed the highest inhibition at 3%. The effects of BA, PO, and BA + PO in vitro on the seed germination and seedling vigor index of the tomato cv. ‘Tala F1’ was also tested. All “BA, PO, and BA + PO” treatments increased the percentage of germinated seeds and seedlings’ main shoots and root length compared to control treated seeds. The BA, PO, and BA + PO treatments were further tested under greenhouse and field conditions with pre-treated seedlings in FOL-contaminated soil. Under greenhouse conditions, each treatment decreased disease severity compared to untreated seedlings. Under field conditions, pre-treatment of tomato seedlings with BA and PO treatments reduced disease severity greater than BA + PO in combination and the mock-treated plants (66.6% for BA, 66.6% for PO and 55.3% for BA + PO, respectively). These findings support the use of BA or PO as bio-control agents against F. oxysporum in tomato. The interplay between peppermint oil, B. amyloliquefaciens, F. oxysporum, and the host plant requires further study to identify the causative mechanism for this increased disease resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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21 pages, 5235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Germination and Agronomic Traits of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Beans Sprayed with Trichoderma Strains and Attacked by Acanthoscelides obtectus

by Álvaro Rodríguez-González, Marcos Guerra, Daniela Ramírez-Lozano, Pedro Antonio Casquero and Santiago Gutiérrez

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2130; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112130 - 24 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1850

Abstract

Acanthoscelides obtectus, one of the world’s most important post-harvest pests, attacks wild and cultivated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Four Trichoderma strains, Trichoderma arundinaceum IBT 40,837 (=Ta37), a wild-type strain producer of trichothecene harzianum A (HA); two transformed strains of Ta37, Ta37-17.139 (Δtri17) and Ta37-23.74 (Δtri23); and T. brevicompactum IBT 40,841 (=Tb41), a wild-type strain producer of the trichothecene trichodermin, were evaluated to determine the effect of these compounds on the virulence of A. obtectus and the effect of these strains on the seed’s capacity of germination and on the agronomic traits of the plants grown from these seeds. Treatments of bean seeds with different Trichoderma strains provided varying survival rates in A. obtectus adults, so life survival of insects after Tb41 strain application was reduced to 15 days. Δtri17 and Tb41 strains sprayed on P. vulgaris beans resulted in low weight losses (1.21 and 1.55%, respectively). In spite of the low germination percentage of beans treated with Δtri23 strain (lower than the germination percentages of the rest of the fungal strains applied), this treatment encouraged a greater Wet Weight of Aerial Part of the plants grown from both damaged and undamaged beans. High germination rates of Ta37 and Δtri17 strains (higher than with the rest of treatments), did not turn into a greater Wet Weight Aerial Part and Wet Weight of Root System in the future plants developed. Linear regression between the number of exit holes and the wet weight aerial part on the one hand, and between the number of exit holes and the wet weight root system on the other, showed interaction, so Δtri23 and Tb41 strains behaved differently in comparison to their respective control treatments. The number of exit holes of beans treated with Δtri23 or Tb41 was negatively correlated with both the wet weight aerial part and the wet weight root system in P. vulgaris plants. Δtri23 sprayed on undamaged beans caused the greatest Wet Weight Aerial Part and wet weight root system in plants. Due to the good results obtained by Δtri23 and Tb41 strains in this work, more studies for A. obtectus control, P. vulgaris plant growth and trichothecenes production by these strains should be explored, in order to advance in the knowledge of how these fungi could be used in the field crop, together with the application of management strategies to mitigate risks for farmers and to minimize environmental contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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16 pages, 1008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Promising Predator-In-First Strategy to Control Western Corn Rootworm Population in Maize Fields

by Antoine Pasquier, Lucie S. Monticelli, Adeline Moreau, Benjamin Kaltenbach, Candice Chabot, Thibault Andrieux, Maxime Ferrero and Elodie Vercken

Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101984 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1939

Abstract

Western Corn Rootworm is a pest of maize that mostly damages roots. Many alternative strategies have been explored to control this species, with little or non-lasting success, and it remains a threat to maize production worldwide. Gaeolaelaps aculeifer, a soil-dwelling predatory mite that inhabits the first few centimeters of the soil, showed high predatory potential against WCR larvae in the laboratory. In this study, we explored the efficiency of G. aculeifer against WCR in more realistic contexts. First, we infested maize plants isolated in pots in a greenhouse with WCR, and tested the impact of different densities of mites on plant protection. Using standard indicators of WCR population presence and impact, we confirmed that G. aculeifer has the potential to control WCR at densities starting from 100 mites/plant. Then, considering that the release of a large amount of biocontrol agents at WCR emergence might be too costly and constraining for large-scale implementation, we tested the efficiency of a predator-in-first strategy in a maize field infested by WCR. The goal was to introduce fewer G. aculeifer combined with Aleuroglyphus ovatus eggs as an alternative food source in order to let the mite population grow in the field and reach sufficient density at the critical stage for protection. This strategy gave comparable results to pesticide on all indicators examined in our field trial, highlighting the potential to sustainably manage this pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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17 pages, 2331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Streptomyces spp. from Rice Fields as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Burkholderia glumae and Rice Plant Growth Promoter

by Mohamad Syazwan Ngalimat, Erneeza Mohd Hata, Dzarifah Zulperi, Siti Izera Ismail, Mohd Razi Ismail, Nur Ain Izzati Mohd Zainudin, Noor Baity Saidi and Mohd Termizi Yusof

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091850 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3090

Abstract

The usage of plant growth-promoting (PGP) Streptomyces to improve plant growth is an alternative to existing strategies of chemical fertilizers that commonly caused environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize PGP Streptomyces from Malaysian rice fields with antagonistic activity against Bacterial Panicle Blight disease in rice caused by Burkholderia glumae. A total of 50 bacterial isolates were recovered from the soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere; 22% showed antagonistic activity against B. glumae. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA amplification and phylogenetic tree analyses revealed that the antagonistic isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces. Among the antagonistic isolates, Streptomyces sp. TBS5 (26.35 ± 0.14 mm) demonstrated the most antagonistic activity (p < 0.05) against B. glumae. Through API^® ZYM analysis, the antagonistic isolates were revealed to have phosphoric hydrolase, ester hydrolase, peptide hydrolase, and glycosidase activities that play a crucial role in plant growth promotion. The antagonistic isolates demonstrated the highest (80%) PGP traits including able to fix nitrogen and solubilize phosphate, as well as produce siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid. Plant growth promotion assay under laboratory and greenhouse conditions were analyzed with the treatment of rice, Oryza sativa, seeds with the antagonistic isolates. Seeds treated with Streptomyces sp. TBS5, JAS2, R2-7, and TKR8 showed improvement in vigor index by more than 100% compared to water-treated control plants under both conditions. Augmentation of root length showed an overall increment of more than 101.5% under laboratory condition and 151.9% under greenhouse condition using Streptomyces sp. TBS5, JAS2, R2-7, and TKR8 treatments. Results suggest that Streptomyces sp. TBS5, JAS2, R2-7, and TKR8 are a good candidate to be developed as both biocontrol agent against B. glumae and PGP agent in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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12 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Effect of Different Concentrations of Spirotetramat on the Diaspine Scale Parlatoria ziziphi in Citrus Orchards

by Amine Assouguem, Mohammed Kara, Hamza Mechchate, Mashail N. AlZain, Omar Mohammed Noman, Hamada Imtara, Christophe Hano, Mansour N. Ibrahim, Safaâ Benmessaoud, Abdellah Farah and Abderahim Lazraq

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091840 - 14 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

The control of Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas, 1853) was studied in citrus orchards at Mechraa Belksiri in the Gharb area of Morocco. Three concentrations of spirotetramat T0 = 0 L/Ha as a control experiment, T1 = 0.625 L/Ha, T2 = 0.755 L/Ha, and T3 = 1 L/Ha, were applied on 4 ha of Valencia late orchard (each dose for 1 ha of Valencia late). The effect of spirotetramat was evaluated on the mortalities and survival rates of P. ziziphin during the stages of larvae (first instar and second instar) and females (F1, F2, and F3). Results showed that the spirotetramat was effective on larvae and females of P. ziziphi. Among the 11,229 females recorded, 93% were inhibited, while only 7% were intact after the treatment period. Finally, our study highlights that all concentrations tested were effective on the P. ziziphi population; besides, all three concentrations of this product tested were equally effective on larvae and females of P. ziziphi. Thus, during the spread period, spraying a low concentration of this product (0.625 L/Ha) will better control this pest and reduce the environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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12 pages, 20919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Spirotetramat on the Diaspine Scale Parlatoria pergandii in Citrus Orchards

by Amine Assouguem, Mohammed Kara, Ismail Mansouri, Hamada Imtara, Mashail N. AlZain, Hamza Mechchate, Raffaele Conte, Wafae Squalli, Abdellah Farah and Abderrahim Lazraq

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081562 - 5 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2632

Abstract

The control of Parlatoria pergandii (Comstock, 1881) was studied in citrus orchards at Belksiri (Gharb area), Morocco. Three concentrations of Spirotetramat (T0 = 0 L/Ha, T1 = 0.625 L/Ha, T2 = 0.755 L/Ha, and T3 = 1 L/Ha) were applied to 4 ha of Valencia late orchard (each dose for 1 ha of citrus). The insecticidal of Spirotetramat was evaluated on two stages of larvae (L1 and L2) of P. pergandii and three stages of females, F1, F2, and F3. Similarly, the rates of parasitism by Aphytis hispanicus on the females of three different stages were monitored to evaluate the impact of Spirotetramat on this natural enemy. Results showed that Spirotetramat was more effective on larvae than females. Of the females, 26.04% were parasitized, 65.81% were inhibited, and only 8.15% were intact after the treatment period. Of the larvae, 79.73% were inhibited, and only 20.27% survived after the treatment period. Finally, our study highlights that all the tested concentrations of this product were effective on the population of P. pergandii. On the other hand, this product showed a less negative impact on the parasitized females with the low concentration (0.625 L/Ha) compared to the high concentrations of the pesticide (T2 = 0.755 L/Ha and T3 = 1 L/Ha), especially for the female stages F2 and F3. Moreover, the impact on the water table will be less severe with a low concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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20 pages, 2532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biocontrol of Stemphylium vesicarium and Pleospora allii on Pear by Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma spp.: Preventative and Curative Effects on Inoculum Production

by Concepció Moragrega, Alba Carmona and Isidre Llorente

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081455 - 22 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3697

Abstract

Trials under controlled and field conditions were conducted to establish the effect of strategies of application of biological control agents (BCAs) in the reduction of Stemphylium vesicarium and Pleospora allii inoculum production on pear leaf debris. Six BCAs based on different strains of Trichoderma spp. (Tr1, Tr2) and Bacillus subtilis (Bs1, Bs2, Bs3 and Bs4) were evaluated. Two strategies were tested in controlled experiments: application before (preventative strategy) or after (curative strategy) pear leaf debris colonization by S. vesicarium, evaluating the growth inhibition and sporulation of S. vesicarium and the pseudothecia production of P. allii. When the BCAs were applied preventatively, the efficacy of treatments based on B. subtilis was higher than those based on Trichoderma spp. in controlling the pathogen colonization, but that of controlling the inoculum production of S. vesicarium and P. allii was similar. However, when the BCAs were applied curatively, Trichoderma based products were more effective. In field trials, Trichoderma spp. Tr1 and B. subtlilis Bs1 produced a consistent 45–50% decrease in the number of S. vesicarium conidia trapped compared to the non-treated control. We conclude that Bacillus subtilis Bs1 and Trichoderma spp. Tr1 and Tr2 can be expected to reduce fungal inoculum during the pear vegetative period by at least 45–50%. Additionally, Trichoderma spp. Tr1 and Tr2 have the potential to reduce the fungal overwintering inoculum by 80% to 90%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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16 pages, 1273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Fungicide Application and Vine Age on Trichoderma Diversity as Source of Biological Control Agents

by Guzmán Carro-Huerga, Sara Mayo-Prieto, Álvaro Rodríguez-González, Óscar González-López, Santiago Gutiérrez and Pedro A. Casquero

Agronomy 2021, 11(3), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030446 - 27 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2518

Abstract

Fungi from the genus Trichoderma have a worldwide distribution and are commonly found in agricultural lands. Further, it has been described as a non-virulent and symbiont microorganism that can contribute to minimize the pernicious effects of pathogens. In the present work we have isolated Trichoderma spp. from bark of grapevine in different orchards in order to determine the influence of fungicide application and vine age on Trichoderma diversity in plant. An opposite correlation between the number of fungicides sprayed per campaign and the diversity of Trichoderma spp. isolates was found. Moreover, the older are grapevine plants the higher is the diversity of Trichoderma spp. isolates. The different Trichoderma strains isolated were tested against Phaeoacremonium minimum, a grapevine trunk pathogen, to evaluate their biocontrol capacity. Three Trichoderma strains shown a significant capacity to control P. minimum and were selected as candidates to be used as biological control agents. In addition, a rapid and easy method for isolating Trichoderma spp. from grapevine plants has been developed, which allowed to determine that the reduction in the amount of pesticide use, together with the preservation of old vineyards, lead to healthier agroecosystems containing higher levels of beneficial microorganisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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14 pages, 2653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Physicochemical Characteristics of Bean Crop Soil in Trichoderma spp. Development

by Sara Mayo-Prieto, Alejandra J. Porteous-Álvarez, Sergio Mezquita-García, Álvaro Rodríguez-González, Guzmán Carro-Huerga, Sara del Ser-Herrero, Santiago Gutiérrez and Pedro A. Casquero

Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020274 - 1 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3034

Abstract

Spain has ranked 6th on the harvested bean area and 8th in bean production in the European Union (EU). The soils of this area have mixed silt loam and sandy loam texture, with moderate clay content, neutral or acidic pH, rich in organic matter and low carbonate levels, providing beans with high water absorption capacity and better organoleptic qualities after cooking. Similar to other crops, it is attacked by some phytopathogens. Hitherto, chemical methods have been used to control these organisms. However, with the Reform of the Community Agrarian Policy in the EU, the number of authorized plant protection products has been reduced to prevail food security, as well as to be sustainable in the long term, giving priority to the non-chemical methods that use biological agents, such as Trichoderma. This study aimed to investigate the relative importance of various crop soil parameters in the adaptation of Trichoderma spp. autoclaved soils (AS) and natural soils (NS) from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Alubia La Bañeza—León” that were inoculated with Trichoderma velutinum T029 and T. harzianum T059 and incubated in a culture chamber at 25 °C for 15 days. Their development was determined by quantitative PCR. Twelve soil samples were selected and analyzed from the productive zones of Astorga, La Bañeza, La Cabrera, Esla-Campos and Páramo. Their physicochemical characteristics were different by zone, as the texture of soils ranged between sandy loam and silt loam and the pH between strongly acid and slightly alkaline, as well as the organic matter (OM) concentration between low and remarkably high. Total C and N concentrations and their ratio were between medium and high in most of the soils and the rest of the micronutrients had an acceptable concentration except for Paramo’s soil. Both Trichoderma species developed better in AS than in NS, T. velutinum T029 grew better with high levels of OM, total C, ratio C:N, P, K, Fe, and Zn than T. harzianum T059 in clay soils, with the highest values of cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, Ca, Mg and Mn. These effects were validated by Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), texture, particularly clay concentration, OM, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH (physical parameters) and B and Cu (soil elements) are the main factors explaining the influence in the Trichoderma development. OM, EC, C:N ratio and Cu are the main soil characteristics that influence in T. velutinum T029 development and pH in the development of T. harzianum T059. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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9 pages, 1454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Response of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Larvae on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae): Implications for Biological Control

by Abdelkader Meni Mahzoum, María Villa, Jacinto Benhadi-Marín and José Alberto Pereira

Agronomy 2020, 10(10), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101511 - 4 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4464

Abstract

Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a voracious predator of soft-bodied insects such as juveniles of scale insects and the black scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is an important pest of several crops, such as the olive tree. However, the predatory efficiency of C. carnea on S. oleae has been unstudied yet. The present work aimed to study the functional response of larvae of C. carnea fed on S. oleae nymphs. In a controlled laboratory environment, increasing densities of S. oleae second and third nymph stages were offered to newly emerged specimens of the three larvae instars of C. carnea. After 24 h, the number of killed S. oleae was recorded and the functional response of C. carnea was assessed. The three larval stages of C. carnea displayed a type-II functional response, i.e., killed prey increased with higher S. oleae densities up to a maximum limited by the handling time. The attack rate did not significantly differ among the three instars while the maximum attack rate was significantly higher for the third instar. The handling time of the first larval instar of C. carnea was higher than that of the third instar. Our results demonstrated that S. oleae could act as a food resource for all larval stages of C. carnea. Furthermore, the third larval stage of the predator was the most efficient in reducing S. oleae densities. These results suggest that C. carnea larvae could contribute to S. oleae control in sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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Review

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23 pages, 412 KiB

Open AccessReview

Side Effects of Pesticides on the Olive Fruit Fly Parasitoid Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti): A Review

by Lara A. Pinheiro, Beatriz Dáder, Andrea C. Wanumen, José Alberto Pereira, Sónia A. P. Santos and Pilar Medina

Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111755 - 11 Nov 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3096

Abstract

Pesticide applications in olive orchards could alter the biological control of parasitoid Psyttalia concolor Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the key pest Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae). Psyttalia concolor adults can be contaminated by exposure to spray droplets, contact with treated surfaces or oral uptake from contaminated food sources. Pesticides impact both pest and parasitoid populations when they coexist in time and space, as they reduce pest numbers available for parasitoids and might cause toxic effects to parasitoids from which they need to recover. Therefore, the appropriate timing and application of selective chemical treatments provides the opportunity to incorporate this parasitoid in the IPM of B. oleae. This manuscript reviews the current literature on lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and biopesticides on P. concolor. Insecticides were generally more toxic, particularly organophosphates and pyrethroids, while herbicides and biopesticides had less effects on mortality and reproductive parameters. Some fungicides were quite harmful. Most of the studies were conducted in laboratory conditions, focused on reproduction as the only sublethal effect, exclusively considered the effect of a single pesticide and persistence was hardly explored. Field studies, currently quite scarce, are absolutely needed to satisfactorily assess the impact of pesticides on P. concolor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Biological Control Agents in Crop Protection)

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